Heat exchanger



C. A. HEUER HEAT EXCHANGER Aug. 10, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Original Filed Sept. 29, 1958 ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1965 c. A. HEUER3,199,584

HEAT EXCHANGER Original Filed Sept. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 #1 mm r MM I I 7 2 no INVENTOR.

CHARLES A. HEUER BY WHQ United States Patent Office snares 3,199,584HEAT Em'li-EAIJQER Charles A. li tener, East Alton, 111., assignor to@lin Mathieson Qhernical tlorpcration, East Alton, lilo, a corporationof Virginia @riginal application fiept. 2%, 1953, Ser. No. 7 sasrv newPatent No. 3,989,225, dated May 14-, E63. Divide' and this applicationFeb. d, 1963, Ser. No. 264,9%

3 Claims. (til. 165-144) This application is a division of copendingapplication Serial Number 763,877, filed September 29, 1958, now UnitedStates Patent 3,089,225, issued May 14, 1963.

This invention relates to the fabrication of heat exchange units, andmore particularly to a finned heat exchanger.

Heretofore in the fabrication of finned heat exchangers from fiatrectangular panels, it has been proposed to slit the panel of theexchanger in the configuration desired to be imparted to the fin andbending the cut the plane of the panel. However, this form of slottingforms fins which extend from only one side of the panel, and does notprovide for fabrication of a fin unit integral with the panel whichextends through, and outwardly from both surfaces of the panel.

An alternate proposed procedure to the above is to provide parallelslits between adjacent passageways, and to twist the portion of thepanel between adjacent cuts into the desired spatial relationship toeach other. This,

of necessity, requires the inclusion of a large portion of the panel asa part twisted portion connecting the fins and the panel in order toprevent tearing or rip-ping, with the additional danger of the tear orrip continuing into a passageway to open it, unless extreme caution iseX- ercised. The requirement of a large twisted portion to avoid theaforesaid dangers reduces the area between the plates for the insertionof secondary heat dissipating fins if the corrugated unit is intendedfor application in radiators for automobiles and the like. Thisreduction in available secondary fin area is caused by the turn betweenthe panel and the plates required to twist the plates, or fins, intoposition.

Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to eliminatedisadvantages of the prior art.

Another object of this invention is to provide a finned heat exchangeunit, from a fiat rectangular panel, containing a plurality of finsextending from both surfaces of the panel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a finned heat exchangeunit from a fiat rectangular panel with a plurality of fins containingtubular circuits interconnected to the passageways of the panel, andextending from both surfaces of the panel.

The above objects are obtained in accordance with this invention by aspecial method of cutting which provide a common hinge portion, in apanel, for a pair of integral tab portions forming a fin or plateintegral with the aforesaid panel. More specifically the inventionrclates to transversely slitting a fin portion between adjacentpassageways of a heat exchange panel to provide at least one pair ofadjacent cuts having terminal portions longitudinally extending towardand coextensive with each other in spaced relationship, and rotating theportion encompassed by the adjacent pair of cuts and the outermostterminal portions about a comm-on hinge portion between the terminalportions of the cuts. The fiat rectangular heat exchange panel, providedwith suitably interconnecting patterns of passageway-s may be obtainedby any method known in the art.

One particular method suitably adapted to the invention is a well knownprocess of fabricating hollow panels such as refrigerator heat exchangesand the like, is fully portion out of disclosed in a patent to Grenell,U.S. 2,690,002, granted on September 28, 1954, in which a pattern ofweld-in-' 'hibiting material is applied to a clean surfaceof a sheet ofmetal. A clean surface of a second sheet of metal is superimposed onthis surface and the two sheets are secured to prevent relative movementand are welded together bylhot rolling in the adjacent areas thereofwhich are not separated by the weld-inhibiting material. Hot rolling ofthe sheets results in reducing the thickness of the two sheets andelongating the resultant blank in the direction of rolling while thewidth of remains substantially the same as the initial width of thesheets. Following the hot rolling operation, the resultant blank isusually softened as by annealing to make it more pliable and if desiredit may then be cold rolled and again softened as by annealing. Theweld-inhibiting material results in an unjoined portion between theouter surfaces of the blank. After softening the blank, the unjoinedportion is expanded by injecting therein a fluid pressure of sufficientmagnitude to permanently distend the blank in the area of the unjoinedportion.

The fiat rectangular heat exchange panels may also be obtained bystamping suitable passageways in sheets of metal which are super-imposedtogether and brazed in the undeformed area, the stamped passages ofwhich are in cooperating alignment with each other to form conduits forthe flow of a suitable heat exchange fluid.

The particular pattern panel and in the various fins extending throughand from both surfaces of the panel will be determined by the specificapplication intended for the unit, selection of which will be apparentto those skilled in the art.

The manner in which the above objects and other objects and advantagesare achieved will become more apparent in the iollowing description anddrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank illustrating an embodiment of theinvention for making the unit of the following figure shown in arelatively flat condition with passageways which may be dilated or readyto be dilated prior to subsequent corrugation;

FZGURE 2 is an isometric exchange unit fabricated from FEGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a :blank illustrating an embodiment of theinvention for making the unit of the following figure;

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of a heat exchange unit fabricated fromthe blank illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a blank illustrating anothervembodiment ofthis invention for making the unit of the following figure;

FIGURE 6 is an isometric view of a heat exchange unit fabricated fromthe blank illustrated in the preceding figure;

FIGURE 7 is a plan view of a blank illustrating another embodiment :ofthis invention for making the unit of the following figure; and

FIGURE 8 is an isometric view of a heat exchange unit fabricated fromthe blank of FIGURE 7.

In accordance with the invention, a plurality of tubular circuits areprovided in spaced relationship to each other, and are suitablyinterconnected to each other bytubular passageways. These tubularcircuits are provided to be included within the area of the panel fromwhich the fins, or the plates, are to be formed in the final assembly.The tubular circuits and the interconnecting tubular passageviewillustrating a heat the blank illustrated in Ways are so arranged as toprovide continuous solid web,

portions between them at points where the desired slit of the inventionis to be made. As noted above, the specific pattern of the tubularcircuits will be dependent upon Patented Aug. 1Q, 1965 the resultantblank which is to be employed in the- 3 and governed by the specificapplication contemplated for the final unit.

Portions of the panel between adjacent circuits and connectingpassageways are then transversely slit to provide a pair of adjacentcuts having terminal portions extending toward each other in spacedrelationship overlapping a longitudinal portion of the panel whichiscommon to each terminal'portion. This, in effect, provides two tabportions, cut in the panel, which terminate within each other. Theoverlapping of the terminal portion of the transverse cut forms, fromthe overlapped longitudinal portion, a hinge common to the aforesaidtabs about which the portion of the panel encompassed within theadjacent cuts are rotated out of the panel into the spaced relationshipdesired. The amount of overlapping by the terminal portions with eachother determines the amount of the panel which will serve as the hingeportion for the rotation of the fin, or plate.

By selection of the arrangement of the tubular conduits contemplated forthe specific application, the transverse cuts can be made to have theirterminal portions terminating within the panel, or wherein one of theterminal portions terminates at an edge of the panel.

The number of adjacent transverse cuts can be as large as desiredlimited only by their size and relation to the area of the panel, in anyarrangement, such as aligned, staggered, and/or to include additionalpairs of adjacent cuts within one of the aforesaid pairs. These pairs ofadjacent transverse cuts can be made large, small, or in combinationlarge and small cuts, inclusive of intermediate size cuts, as desired.Accordingly, if a vertical unit is desired having horizontal shelves,the transverse cuts may be large enough to extend across the width orthe length of the panel. If the unit is desired to be provided withbafllings, or fins, for heat exchange applications, the specific size ofthe transverse cuts can be as large or as small as desired. As will beunderstood, the nature and location of the transverse cuts to beprovided to the panel will govern the location of the tubular conduits.

Any configuration of tubular circuits may be provided within the areaencompassed within each pair of adjacent transverse cuts, and whereineach circuit is interconnected to each other by tubular passageways,which are connected into these circuits by traversing the longitudinalportion of the panel common to the overlapped terminal portions of thetransverse cuts.

The invention is not restricted to the inclusion of tubular circuits inall of the contemplated fins, or plates, to be provided in the unitsince, as is evident, any number of the areas between adjacenttransverse cuts may be devoid of circuits, and additional circuits maybe provided within portions of the panel exterior of the areas betweenadjacent pair of transverse cuts.

Referring to the drawings, FIGURE 1 represents a flat rectangular heatexchange panel 1 such as obtained by the aforesaid U.S..Patent 2,690,002in which a plurality of diverse patterns or tube circuits 2, 3 and 4-are arranged in spaced relationship to each other. Each circuit issuitably interconnected to each other by tubular passageways 5 which maybe arranged in a manner such as 6 to provide a maximum amount ofconduiting in the panel and may include additional circuits such as 7.The aforesaid patterns of tubular circuits and passageways are arrangedin a manner to provide a continuous section of webbing for series oftransverse slits 8, 9, ll), 11, 12 and 13.

Transverse slits 8 and 9 have terminal portions 14 and 15, and 16 and17, respectively, which longitudinally extend toward each other and arealso coextensive with each other, in spaced relationship, to overlap alongitudinal portion of the panel shaded. at 18. In the instant pair ofadjacent transverse slits, terminal portions 16 and 17 of slit 9terminate within the terminal portions 14 and 15 of slit 8. In likemanner, slits id and 11 have terminal portions 15" and 20, respectively,which overlap a longitudinal portion of the panel shaded at 21.Transverse slits l2 and 13 illustrate a modification of the mannor inwhich longitudinal portion of the panel 24 may be overlapped in whichonly one of the terminal portions 23 of transverse slit i3 terminatesbetween the terminal portions 22; of transverse slit 12. Each pair ofadjacent transverse cuts, in eitect, defines two tab portions which arerotated out of the plane upon common hinge portions 1%, 21 and 24 commonto each of the tab portions. The two tabs portions, together, providethe completed fin, or plate, 25 between slits 3 and 9, 26 betweentransverse slits l3 and ll, and 27 between slit-s l2 and 13. v

The overlapped longitudinal portions 18, 21 and 24 also provide aconvenient section of the panel through which the interconnectingpassageways 5 may traverse to connect with the tubular circuitsencompassed within each pair of adjacent cuts. Although the circuitsbetween adjacent transverse cuts are shown connneeted at each end bytubular passageways extending within each of the longitudinal portions13, 21 and 24, the terminal portions of the transverse cuts may bespaced at a sufiicient distance from each other to accommodate two tubepassages serving as inlets and outlets for the encompassed tubularcircuits.

FIGURE 2 shows the completed unit with the encompassed areas 25, 2s and27 rotated out of the plane of the panel on hinge portions 18, 21 and24, respectively, to form fins, or plates, 2-5, 26' and 27'. Althoughthese fins, or plate}, may be rotated to any spatial configurationdesired, they are shown rotated to a position normal to the plane of thepanel, and may be employed as shelving for any desired heat exchangeappplication such as evaporator panels in reirigerators, or heaters invarious types of drying ovens. It is to be understood that thisinvention is directed to the provision of a hinge portion to both tahpgptions of the fin unit to extend from both sides of the surfaces of thepanel. Both tap portions of the fin need not be maintained within thesame plane, as illustrated above, since after rotation of the finnedunit out of the panel, the tab portions may be further bent relative toeach other at any angle desired as a result of the common hinging ofboth tab portions.

If the interconnected system of passageways in blank 1 has beendistended preceding fabrication in accordance with this invention, theunit is ready for any application desired as noted above. The twistingof the aforesaid fins, or plates, of FIGURE 1 may be accomplished byinjecting water into the passageways, freezing the liquid, and rotatingthe fins, or plates, to prevent collapse of the passageways in hingeportions 13, 21 and 24. After rotation, the congealed iluid may bethawed, drained from the unit, and the unit suitably dried. However, ifthe system of passageways of blank 1 is undistended, the panel may,after rotation of the fins, or plates, be expanded by introduction offluid pressure .into the passageways.

FIGURE 3 illustrates modifications of the invention. A blank 28 isprovided with a series of tubular circuits 29, 3h, 31, 32., 33 and 34interconnected to each other by a system of passageways 35. Circuits 29is encompassed by a pair of adjacent transverse cuts 36 and 37 havingterminal portions 38 and 39, respectively, longitudinally extendingtoward and in spaced relationship with each other to overlap alongitudinal portion 449 which is the hinge portion common to the tabs,formed by cuts 36 and 37, about which tin, or plate, 41 may be rotatedout of the plane or panel 28. Transverse cut 36 in the instantembodiment is shown in a waved form as illustrative of the variousconfigurations that the transverse cut may take.

The middle portion of the panel 28 illustrates a modification, of theinvention to encompass a cutout section of the panel 42. containedbetween, circuits 3t and 31. In this modification, a longitudinal cut 43has terminal portions 44 which extend in a direction lateral of theplate and encompasses tubular circuits 32 and portions of circuits 3t)and 31. The other transverse cut of the adjacent pair constitutes alongitudinal cut 45 through the edge 46 of cutout 42 and has terminalportions 7 extending laterally within terminal portions 44 of transversecut 43 to encompasses a lateral portion 48. The lateral sides 49 ofcutout 42 provide additional terminal portions for transverse cut 45 andextend within the terminal portions 44 within transverse cut 43. In thismodification, transverse cut 43 defines a tab portion 64 whiletransverse cut 45 defines two tab portions 65 and 66 which togethercomprise the fin, or plate, 67.

This specific configuration not only serves as an illustration ofvarious modifications that the invention may take, but is intended toshow the relative meaning of the terms transverse and longitudinal usedherein. Thus, if one makes the transverse cuts to extend between lateralsides of the panel in the direction relative to the longest length ofthe panel, the longitudinal portion of the panel which the terminalportions must overlap will be in the elongated direction of the panel.However, if the transverse cut is made between the lateral sidesrelative to the shortest length of the panel, the longitudinal portionof the panel overlapped by the trerninal portions of the transverse cutwill be in the shortened direction of the panel. The terms are usedherein merely to describe the relative position of each individual pairof adjacent transverse cuts.

The remaining portion of panel 28 illustrates a pair of adjacenttransverse cuts contained within another pair of adjacent transversecuts. A pair of transverse cuts 50 an 51 having terminal portions 52 and53, respectively, which encompass the two tubular circuits 33 and 34 andoverlap a longtiudinal portion 54 which is to serve as the hinge commonto tab portions 55 and 56 defined by the two transverse cuts 50 and 51.These two tab portions 55 and 56 comprise the fin, or plate, 57. Asecond pair of transverse cuts 58 and 59 are contained within thetransverse cuts 50 and 51 and encompass tubular circuits 34. Thesesecondary transverse cuts 58 and 59 have terminal portions 60 and 61extending in spaced relationship toward each other to overlap alongitudinal portion of the panel 62 which will serve as a hinge portioncommon to the tab portions defined by these secondary transverse cutsand comprising the finned portion 63.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the panel with fins, or plates, 41, 57 and 67rotated out of the plane of the panel on their respective hingeportions. In addition, plate 57 has a secondary plate 63 rotated out ofits plane on hinge portion FIGURE 5 illustrates other modifications ofthe invention provided in blank 68 containing tubular circuits 69, '70,71 72, 73 and '74 interconnected by tubular passages 130. Circuit 69 isencompassed by a pair of adjacent transverse cuts which overlap alongitudinal portion 75 of blank 68 utilizing longitudinal edge 76 ofthe blank as one of the transverse cuts with terminal portions 77extending toward in overlapping and spaced relationship with terminalportions 78 of a transverse cut 79.

Heretofore in the modifications described, the fins, or plates rotatedout of the plane of the panel were provided with an intervening portionof the panel between them. However, the modification depicted in thecentral portion of panel 68, illustrates a modification of the inventionwith the absence of any intervening portions of the panel betweenadjacent fins, or plates.

A serie of transverse cuts 80, 81 and 82 are provided for circuits 70,'71, 72 and 73 with cuts 80 and 82 having terminal portions 83 and 84extending toward each other, however, separated by a relatively largelongitudinal portion of. the panel. Four pairs of adjacent transversecuts are provided for the various circuits by providing transverse cuts81, 87 and 90. Transverse cut 81 has primary terminal portions 85 andsecondary terminal portions 86. Transverse cut 87 is provided withprimary terminal portions 88 and secondary terminal portions 89.Transverse out 90 is provided with primary terminal portions 91 andsecondary terminal portions 92. Terminal portions 85, of transverse cut81, extend toward terminal portions 83, of transverse cut 80, inoverlapping coextensive relationship to each other to overlap alongitudinal portion 93 to serve as a hinge portion common to the tabsdefined by transverse cuts and 81 94. Secondary terminal portions 86, oftransverse cut 81, extend toward primary terminal portion 88 oftransverse cut 87 in coextending spaced relationship to overlap a hingeportion 96 for plate 95. In like manner, secondary terminal portions 89,of transverse cut 87, extend toward the primary terminal portions 91 oftransverse cut to overlap a hinge portion 97 to encompass circuits 72 ofplate 99. The secondary terminal portions 92 of transverse cut 90 extendtoward the terminal portion 84 of transverse cut 82 to overlap a hingeportion 98 of plate 100.

Although the midportion of the panel 68 to the fabrication of the fins,or plates, 94 95, 99 and 100 have been included with other forms ofcircuits or plates, it is to be understood that the entire plate may belimited to this specific type of fin, or plate, construction to form aplate composed entirely of fins, or plates, rotated out of the plane ofthe panel without any intervening portions of the panel by the adjacentplates. This type of open construction permits the use of the resultantunit in further fabrications of radiator stock for automobiles and thelike by the inclusion of secondary thin corrugated heat dissipating finsbetween adjacent plates.

The last portion of blank 68 illustrates the encompassing of tubularcircuit 74 by a fin, or plate, 101 formed by a pair of adjacenttransverse cuts, in which both a lateral and a longitudinal edge of thepanel are employed. A portion 102 of the longitudinal edge of panel 68constitutes a transverse cut having terminal portions 103 and 110. Atransverse cut 104 extending to a lateral edge of the panel has aterminal portion 105 and utilizes a portion 106 of the lateral edge ofpanel 68 for the other terminal portion. The terminal portion 103 oftransverse cut 102 extends toward terminal portion 105 in coextendingspaced relationship to overlap a longitudinal portion 107 as one of thehinge portions for fin, or plate 108. Although terminal portion 106 iscoextensive with the length of the other terminal portion 110, oftransverse cut 102, only a longitudinal portion 109 serves as a hingeportion for plate 108. Although transverse cut 104 utilizes portion 106of the lateral edge of panel 68, such utilization complys with therequirements of the invention since portion 109 employed as a terminalportion coextends with terminal portion 110 of transverse cut 102.

In this modification, since portion 106 extends to a longitudinal edgeof panel 68, terminal portion 110 of transverse cut 102 could belengthened or foreshortened to the longitudinal edge of the panel in anymanner desired since the terminal portions will continue to overlap eachother. By foreshortening terminal portion 110, of transverse cut 102,plate 108 can be rotated out of the plane of the panel on hinge portions107 and 109 on a diagonal within panel 68.

FIGURE 6 illustrates panel 68 with the various plates rotated out of theplane of the panel.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modification of the invention wherein two rows oftubular circuits are located in a panel 111 in which portions of thecircuits in each row are encompassed by pairs of adjacent transversecuts in staggered relationship. The panel is provided with tubularcircuits 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120, of which allcircuits but 114, 116, 118 and 120 are encompassed by a pair of adjacenttransverse cuts overlapping longitudinal portions 121, 122, 123, 124 and125 which serve as the hinge portions for the various fins, or plates,encompassed within each of the pairs of transverse cuts. The variouspairs of adjacent transverse cuts comply with the requirements of theinvention since the transverse cuts in each pair have terminal portionsextending to each other in coextending spaced relationship to overlapthe longitudinal portion necessary to serve as a hinge comprising thepanel aroaeea- 7 for the rotation of the platesout of the plane of thepanel, in which form they are illustrated in FIGURE 8.

As can be observed, by fabricating the fins, or plates, in the mannerprescribed by the invention, the final fabricated heat exchange unit isprovided with fins which can extend through the panel and away from bothsurfaces of the panel. In the modifications described, the plane of thefin intersects the plane of the panel. In the four angles formed by theintersection of the planes, the hinge portion will normally extendwithin only one of the. aforesaid angles, although it is to beunderstood that the amount of the longitudinal portion overlapped by theterminal portions can be great enough to permit its bowing out forconnecting means, supporting means and the like.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specificembodiments, materials and details, various modifications and changeswill be apparent to one skilled in the art and are contemplated to beembraced within the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A heat exchange unit comprising (A) a panel,

(B) at least one hollow tube within said panel,

2. A heat exchange unit according to claim 1 wherein said fin lies in aplane normal to the surface of said panel.

3. A heat exchange unit according to claim 1 wherein 10 said fin lies ina plane intersecting the plane of said panel.

References ited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Williams 165l66 XButtery 22928 Buttery.

Buir 165-470 X Wurtz 165170 X 20 ROBERT A. OLEARY, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES SUKALO, Examiner.

2. A HEAT EXCHANGE UNIT COMPRISING (A) A PANEL, (B) AT LEAST ONE HOLLOWTUBE WITHIN SAID PANEL, (C) AT LEAST ONE FIN EXTENDING THROU/GH ANDINTEGRAL WITH SAID PANEL, SAID FIN COMPRISING TWO INTEGRAL TAB PORTIONSROTATED OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID PANEL ON A HINGE PORTION COMMON TO BOTHSAID TAB PORTIONS, AND (D) A HOLLOW TUBE CIRCUIT WITHIN SAID FIN INCOMMUNICATION WITH THE HOLLOW TUBE WITHIN SAID PANEL.